Ligue 1: Strasbourg and Laurey, it's over

Thierry Laurey, 57, will not improve his own record as the longest coach in a row in Strasbourg.

After five years and 179 games spent on the club bench, the former midfielder and central defender, at the end of his contract, left Alsace after having ensured the maintenance, Sunday, with a draw against Lorient (1-1 ).

"It's a cycle that is coming to an end," explains President Marc Keller.

With Thierry, we had a great adventure, with strong moments and more difficult periods during which the club has always remained united.

We are going to experience a fifth consecutive season in Ligue 1. I thank Thierry for having contributed to it.

I pay tribute to his professionalism and his commitment.

We wish him all the best for the new challenges that await him now.

Racing also thanks Fabien Lefèvre, his loyal assistant, for the work accomplished.

"

📊 Between May 30, 2016 and May 23, 2021 (the date of his last match), Thierry Laurey will have spent 1454 consecutive days at the head of @RCSA.

This is the absolute record for a coach in the history of the club!

#LiveRCS pic.twitter.com/wA7wl6ELRG

- Racing Database 🥨 (@ 1RacingDatabase) May 24, 2021

From his first season, Laurey had allowed the RCS to regain Ligue 1 before managing to maintain it there four times, including two narrowly in 2018 and 2021. To his credit also a Coupe de la Ligue in 2019 and the pride of 'allowing Strasbourg supporters to once again feel the scent of the European Cup.

Passionate, excessive, often muscular in his speeches to players or his statements, the Trojan has no regrets. "Do not worry, I have no nostalgia when I leave a club, I have no regrets or anything, he said Sunday night before the formalization of his departure. But I don't want to take anything away from what I did for five years. It was very, very good. Each year, we have sought to improve the team, the club has grown. After this year, unfortunately, pfff, a lot of things have fallen on us

We would have liked to do better but the maintenance objective has been reached. We're not going to boast either… ”

Laurey is not the only coach to have turned the page on Sunday. Stéphane Moulin in Angers or Rudi Garcia in Lyon did the same. Reims, Montpellier or Nice will also change technicians this summer.